Absolute Batman artist Nick Dragotta showed off his concept art for Absolute Clayface.
A common criticism of the Absolute rogues gallery designs so far has been that they look like monster versions of the traditional villains’ looks. Like, that is how we got mutated Poison Ivy, demon-dragon Joker, or a Slender Man-esque Scarecrow. However, Clayface is arguably the most monster-like in his mainstream form– is actually looks more muted in his Absolute design.
Building Up Absolute Clayface
Yes, he still has a mud-like appearance. But Clayface is much more humanoid-looking and smaller. He seems to morph differently than how mainstream Clayface morphs. It seems as if he comes a mud puddle with a swarm of hands pushing him up. What is more interesting are the notes that Dragotta made on the side of his sketches.
Dragotta wrote “Base form Clayface should be like a sculptor finding the should in his art” But even more intriguing, Dragotta wrote “Puddles of mud follow Clayface like shadows. His trapped souls sculpt him.”
Is this literal? Is Absolute Clayface made-up of trapped souls turned into mud form? Does Clayface maybe absorb victims and then is able to take out their qualities? Is the Clayface motivated by gathering souls and trying to perfect them or make them better?
This version of Clayface seems to be an artist who is never finished with their work. This is a departure from the Clayface who is an actor who suffers from facial scars. The artist personality certainly fits with the clay/ sculpture motif. The little captions that Dragotta wrote make it seem like an obsessive artist. “I’ll make a fine mold out of you” or “We are all works in progress.”
Sounds like another different take of another rogues gallery member. Absolute Clayface is set to debut in Absolute Batman #23. That issue hits stores some time in August.
Source: AIPTcomics.com
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